Velma C. Abernathy

MOORESVILLE — Velma Waulena Calloway Abernathy, 81, 220 E. Wilson Ave., died Sunday (Aug. 26, 2001) at her home.

Born May 16, 1920, in Mississippi, Mrs. Abernathy was a daughter of the late Robert Anderson and Odessa Calloway. She retired fromTemplon Mill and was a member of Ben Avenue Freewill Baptist Church, Kannapolis.

Her husband Oscar B. Abernathy, died March 28, 1994.

Survivors include sons Ronald Craig Abernathy, Mooresville, and Max Eugene Calloway, China Grove; daughters Terria Fain Curlee and Deidre Rowena Abernathy, both of Mooresville; brother Robert B. Calloway, China Grove; sisters Flowella Allen, Salisbury, and Dorothy Calloway, Boone; half sister Judy Williams, China Grove; 11 grandchildren; and 20 great-grandchildren.

Services: 1 p.m. Wednesday, Linn-Honeycutt Funeral Home chapel, China Grove, conducted by the Rev.Dean Mitchem. Burial, 2 p.m., National Cemetery, Salisbury.

Visitation: 7-8:30 tonight at the funeral home.

An online memorial can be found at www.americanmemorials.com .

Mildred Welch Byrd

LEXINGTON — Mildred Welch Byrd, 82, formerly of 121 Park Lane, died Monday (Aug. 27, 2001) at Lexington Health Care.

Services: 2 p.m. Wednesday, chapel of First Baptist Church.

Visitation: 6:30-8:30 tonight, Piedmont Funeral Home.

Frances E. Clearwater

RHINEBECK, N.Y. —Frances E. Clearwater, 91, Largo, Fla., parent of Carl Clearwater, Kannapolis, N.C., died Saturday (Aug. 18, 2001) at the Baptist Home.

Funeral services were held Aug. 22 in Poughkeepsie.

Michael Dean Hess Jr.

CHARLOTTE —Funeral services were held this morning for Michael Dean Hess Jr., infant son of Michael and Jacqueline Hess of Charlotte, who died Friday (Aug. 24, 2001) at Carolinas Medical Center.

Survivors, in addition to his parents, include brother Christian Hess; and grandparents Jose and Maria Posada, Charlotte, and Charles and Linda Hess, Salisbury.

Funeral services were held at 11 this morning at Hickory Grove Baptist Church Chapel. The Rev. John Harrill officiated. Burial was at Gethsemane Memorial Gardens.

Hankins and Whittington Funeral Service was in charge.

Memorials: American Heart Association, 1229 Greenwood Cliff, Suite 109, Charlotte, NC 28204.

Mabel R. Hoffner

The funeral will be Wednesday for MabelRoberts Hoffner, 97, Tucker, Ga., formerly of Salisbury, who died Sunday (Aug. 26, 2001) at Hospice of Atlanta, Atlanta, Ga.

Born Oct. 6, 1903, in McAdenville, Mrs. Hoffner, a daughter of the late Hugh Kerr and Lula Walker Roberts, was educated in the Salisbury schools and was a graduate of Salisbury Business College.

She retired in 1967 from the insurance department at Rowan Memorial Hospital, now Rowan Regional Medical Center. She was also a homemaker and former employee of W.A. Brown and Sons.

A member of First United Methodist Church, she was in the Susanna Wesley Sunday School Class. She was a member of Order of the Eastern Star and attended Tucker First United Methodist Church in Tucker, Ga.

Her husband, Walter Council Hoffner, died April 9, 1953.

Survivors include daughters Jean H. Smith, Tucker, Ga., and Geraldyne H. Hoke, Winston-Salem; seven grandchildren; and 15 great-grandchildren.

Services: 11 a.m. Wednesday, Summersett Funeral Home chapel, conducted by the Rev. Thomas L. Griffis, senior pastor, and the Rev. Sherri Barnes, associate pastor of First United Methodist Church. Burial, City Memorial Park.

Visitation: 7-9 tonight at the funeral home.

Memorials: Hospice of Atlanta, 1244 Park Vista Drive, Atlanta, Ga. 30319; or First United Methodist Church, 217 S. Church St., Salisbury, NC 28144.

Louise Gabriel Moss

KANNAPOLIS —Louise Gabriel Moss, 93, 1304 Sides Ave., died Monday (Aug. 27, 2001) at NorthEast Medical Center, Concord.

Whitley’s Funeral Home is in charge.

Naomi Propst Parks

KANNAPOLIS — The funeral will be Thursday for Naomi Propst Parks, 84, formerly of 8238 Wright Road, who died Sunday (Aug. 26, 2001) at Best of Care Rest Home.

Born April 3, 1917, in Cabarrus County, Mrs. Parks, a daughter of the late Andrew and Elizabeth Eddleman Propst, was a homemaker.

She was a member of Bethpage Presbyterian Church, the Upper Room Sunday School Class, Young at Hearts, the Sunshine Club and was active with the Presbyterian Women for 54 years.

Her husband, Walter Leon Parks, died Oct. 21, 1991, and a daughter, Patricia Parks Barbee, died Sept. 19, 1985.

Survivors include daughters Joyce Parks Deal, Kannapolis, and Jane Parks Evans, Salisbury; son Ronnie Parks, Kannapolis; sister Beulah Propst, Kannapolis; brother Gene Propst, Kannapolis; seven grandchildren; and one great-grandson.

Services: 2 p.m. Thursday, Bethpage Presbyterian Church, conducted by the Rev. Dr. Steve Mowery, the Rev. Crawford White and Zane Corriher. Burial, church cemetery.

Visitation:7-9 p.m. Wednesday, Lady’s Funeral Home; also in the church fellowship hall after the Thursday service. At other times, the family will be at the home of Joyce Parks Deal, 7950 Wright Road.

Memorials: Bethpage Presbyterian Church, Organ Fund, 6020 Mooresville Road, Kannapolis, NC 28081.

Rev. David Pharr

The Rev. David Pharr, retired presiding elder, of White Plains, N.Y., died Monday (Aug. 27, 2001) at White Plains Medical Center after a period of declining health.

Noble and Kelsey Funeral Home, Salisbury, is in charge.

Camilla Thomas

TROY —Camilla Mazalee Thomas, infant daughter of Jason Scott Thomas and Shellie Leigh Almond, 941 Pine Lake Drive, died at birth Sunday (Aug. 26, 2001) at Carolinas Medical Center,Charlotte.

Survivors, in addition to her parents, include maternal grandparents Glen Almond, New London, and Lisa P.Crosby, Troy; paternal grandparents Patty Price, Rockwell, and Paul Thomas, Fayetteville; maternal great-grandparents Mazalee Galloway, Gold Hill, Edith Almond, Albemarle, and Carroll and Jeanette Pickler, also of Albemarle; maternal stepgrandparents Karen T. Almond, New London, and Chester Crosby, Troy.

Services: Graveside, 11 a.m. Thursday, Norview Gardens, Norwood.

Visitation: The family will be at the home on Pine Lake Drive.

Hartsell Funeral Home, Albemarle, is in charge.

James C. Torrence

MOORESVILLE — The funeral will be Thursday for James Calvin Torrence, 41, 2275 Bradshaw Road, who died Friday (Aug. 24, 2001).

Born Dec. 25, 1959, in IredellCounty, Mr. Torrence was a son of William MarvinTorrence, with whom he made his home, and the late Arties Caldwell Torrence. He was educated at South Rowan High School and was a former employee of Cannon Mills.

Survivors, in addition to his father, include brothers Willie Fred and Ricky Torrence, both of the home, William Henry Torrence, Mooresville, John Aaron and Jeffrey Torrence, both of Concord, N.H., Michael Leander Torrence, Salisbury, andStevie Torrence, Raleigh; and sisters Barbara Rickett and Peggy and Nancy Kelly, all of Salisbury, and Dorothy Springs, Spencer.

Services: 4 p.m. Thursday, Sills Creek AMEZion Church, conducted by the Rev. A.C. Hunnicutt. Burial, church cemetery.

Visitation: 3-4 p.m. Thursday at the church.

Rowan Funeral Service, Salisbury, is in charge.

James L. White

MOCKSVILLE — The funeral will be Wednesday for James Lawrence White, 79, who died Friday (Aug. 24, 2001) at Brian Center, Statesville, after an extended illness.

A native of Davie County, Mr. White was formerly employed at Erwin Mills, Cooleemee.

Survivors include wife Fannie Wilson White; brothers John L. and Ray E. White, both of Cooleemee; three grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren.

Services: 2 p.m. Wednesday, GrahamFuneral Home chapel, conducted by the Rev. Rodney Barker. Burial, Piney Grove AMEZion Church cemetery.

Visitation: 1 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home.

Frances Williams

MOCKSVILLE — Frances Van Eaton Williams, 83, 552 Boxwood Church, died Monday (Aug. 27, 2001) at Rowan Regional Medical Center, Salisbury, after a period of declining health.

Born Jan. 7, 1918, in Davie County, Mrs. Williams was a daughter of the late Jessie and Frankie Foster Van Eaton. She was educated at J.C. Price High School, Salisbury, and Barber-Scotia College, Concord.

Retired from KoSa, she was a member of New Bethel Baptist Church.

A son, Walter A. Williams, died in March 1968. She was also preceded in death by her husband,Jasper Williams.

Survivors include sons George R. Williams and Jasper Williams Jr., both of Mocksville; daughters Ruby M. Williams and Marilyn W. Redfern, both of Salisbury; brother Henry L. Van Eaton,Winston-Salem; seven grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.

Services: Graveside, 11 a.m. Wednesday, New Bethel Baptist Church cemetery, conducted by the Rev.Thomas Dawson Jr.

Noble and Kelsey Funeral Home, Salisbury, is in charge.

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